Proper air conditioning is also essential to any restaurant design. Nothing will turn patrons away faster than a non-air conditioned dining room in the middle of a summer heat wave. It may be tempting to skimp in this area, but in the end, poor ventilation and air conditioning can cost you a lot more in lost sales.

Andrew Goodman, the designer behind the highly lauded San Antonio restaurant concepts Battalion, Feast, Rebelle and Haunt, agrees. “A restaurant can be visually appealing in the design phase, but it needs to be functional when guests pour in,” says Goodman. “The focus of a restaurant is often the kitchen and dining area, so the waiting area can sometimes come as an afterthought. However, it’s the face of your restaurant. It’s the first welcoming space people see, so make it big enough to be comfortable. The last thing you want to do is pack in waiting guests like cattle. It sets an edgy tone for the entire meal.”

Music. Silence is definitely not golden in most restaurants. Music will set the tone in a restaurant just as much as the style of the menu or the artwork on the walls. Avoid CDs that are repetitious, for the sake of your staff, which has to listen to it over and over again.

Creating an amazing bar design is anything but simple. There are thousands of factors to juggle – What will your restaurant, bar or cafe’s style be like? How can you make the interior as beautiful and decorative as possible without disrupting the staff’s workflow? Will safety regulations even allow your grand designs to take form? And if you plan to open your own business, these examples will surely inspire you.